GlobalSecurity.Org wrote:Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Systems Co., of Fort Worth Texas, is being awarded a firm fixed price contract not to exceed $233.6 million. This action will provide for twenty-four F-16 Block 52 aircraft, along with associated support equipment, alternate mission equipment and support elements for the Government of Morocco. This effort will support foreign military sales to the Government of Morocco. At this time $124.3 million has been obligated. 312AESG/PK, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8615-08-C-6050).

The Air Force on Friday awarded Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. in Fort Worth a $233.6 million contract to begin production of 24 F-16 fighters for Morocco.

The Bush administration notified Congress in December that it planned to sell the fighter jets, plus engines, associated weapons and equipment in a deal valued at $2.4 billion.

With the Morocco order, Lockheed has a backlog of about 125 F-16 orders including 30 planes for Turkey that will be assembled in that country.

Production of F-16s at Lockheed's Fort Worth plant has slowed dramatically in the past year as the order backlog has dwindled. Company officials have said that they expect to produce about 30 planes this year and that the existing backlog should keep the production line open until about 2011.

Lockheed employs about 14,000 people at the plant, with fewer than 2,600 now working on the F-16 program.

Last week the Pentagon notified Congress that it planned to sell 24 new and 24 used F-16s to Romania.

geogen wrote:Nothing is certain with F-35 BTW, so hence a justified debate? IMO, a properly upgraded/armed modern Viper will deter the current (and soon to deploy) threats as long as they fly, as well?

Salute.

If it won't be the F-35 i think it will be the EF-2000. Atleats i hope it will be the EF-2000 and not the Rafale or Grippen. But i'm still hoping on the F-35. The best replacement for the F-16 for the least money.

Lockheed Martin in a press release wrote:UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AWARDS LOCKHEED MARTIN CONTRACT TO BEGIN PRODUCTION OF ADVANCED F-16 AIRCRAFT FOR MOROCCO

FORT WORTH, Texas, June 6th, 2008 -- The United States government awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE:LMT] an Undefinitized Contract Authorization (UCA) for the production of 24 Advanced F-16 Block 52 aircraft for Morocco, making the Kingdom of Morocco the 25th nation to select the F-16.

Morocco will acquire a Block 52 configuration of the F-16C/D aircraft tailored to meet the specific requirements of the Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF). The sale will include the aircraft, mission equipment and a support package provided by Lockheed Martin and other U.S. and international contractors. The new aircraft will supplement the RMAF’s existing fleet of fighter aircraft and will contribute to the upgrade and modernization of the RMAF.

Lockheed Martin is being awarded a contract totaling $233.6 million to begin production of 24 aircraft, along with associated support equipment, alternate mission equipment and other support elements for Morocco. This effort will support the Foreign Military Sales program for Morocco.

"We are pleased the Royal Moroccan Air Force selected the F-16 to modernize its fighter force and look forward to working with them as the newest member of the F-16 family," said John Larson, vice president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics´s F-16 program. "The F-16 provides the Kingdom of Morocco with the world´s most affordable and technologically advanced multirole fighter available today, with the added benefit of interoperability with the U.S. Air Force and many other air forces."

The F-16 provides advanced technology and capability across all missions, and its operations and maintenance costs for the life of the aircraft are the best value available today. Operating day and night in all environments and weather, the F-16 remains the safest multirole fighter in U.S. Air Force history. The F-16 will continue to be the backbone of the U.S. Air Force for many years to come, assuring proven support and sustainment throughout the life of Morocco’s F-16 program.

The Moroccan announcement adds to the F-16´s reputation as the world´s most sought-after multi-role fighter. More than 4,400 F-16 aircraft have been delivered to date and production is expected to continue beyond 2012, with major upgrades being incorporated for all F-16 versions.

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., June 6, 2008 – The Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine has been selected by the Royal Moroccan Air Force to power their new fleet of F-16 Block 52 aircraft. The engine program, sold through the U.S. Government’s Foreign Military Sales program, is valued at approximately $170 million and is scheduled for delivery in 2010 and 2011. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.

We are honored by the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s selection of Pratt & Whitney’s F100-PW-229 engine to power their F-16s,” said Bill Begert, Vice President of Business Development for Pratt & Whitney. “We look forward to a long and successful relationship.”

The F100-PW-229 engine offers the Royal Moroccan Air Force a lower total cost of ownership and an outstanding record of safety. Incorporating the latest technologies, this propulsion system provides advanced, dependable power for F-16 fighter aircraft around the world. To date, the F100-PW-229 powered aircraft fleet has logged more than 963,000 flight hours in more than 16 years of operational service.

The Royal Moroccan Air Force becomes the 22nd international customer to select the F100 engine family. F100 engines power F-16 aircraft utilized throughout region in Belgium, Denmark, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Portugal.

The F100-PW-229 is the latest evolution of the F100 family of fighter aircraft engines.Incorporation of the F100-PW-229 Engine Enhancement Package (EEP) — successfully demonstrated in 2004 — will lead to the objective of increasing the engine depot inspection interval from seven years to ten years. In addition, the EEP configuration will provide up to a 30 percent life cycle cost reduction over the life the engine. The EEP will also offer significant safety benefits; reducing the predicted in-flight shutdown rate by up to 25 percent. The F100-PW-229 engine is the only fighter engine funded and qualified by the U.S. Air Force to the 6000 cycle capability.

Pratt & Whitney military engines include the F135 for the F-35 Lightning II, the F119 for the F-22 Raptor, the F100 family that powers the F-15 and F-16, the F117 for the C-17 Globemaster III, the J52 for the EA-6B Prowler, the TF33 powering AWACS, Joint STARS, B-52, and KC-135 aircraft, and the TF30 for the F-111. In addition, Pratt & Whitney offers a global network of MRO and MAS focused on maintaining engine readiness for our customers. Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in government procurement priorities and practices or in the number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design, development, production and support of technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corporation's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

I don't see any such details listed in my quick search. I suspect at least the AIM-120C5 (similar to Pakistan) and AIM-9M and given the reported 6 JHMCS sets included, perhaps a few AIM-9X or IRIS-T? Probably some AGM Mavs and PGMs (given the target pods), is assumed. Wasalam.